The
Gangaramaya Temple is located within the city of Colombo, and is one of the
most famous temples of Sri Lanka.It was created over 120 years ago, over the
swamps of Beira Lake, as a place learning and worship. With one of the best
collections of Buddhist artefacts and texts around the world, Gangaramaya is
now viewed as an institution of international reckoning.

The Navam Full Moon Poya Day in February, holds special special significance to
Buddhists. And since 1979, the Gangarama Temple has held colorful and ebullient
festivals known as a ‘Pereheras’ to commemorate this day.

The festival is used to showcase many talents in traditional Kandyan arts. In
addition the perahera induces harmony amongst the communities as people,
regardless of race or religion, flock to see the festivities.

The Perehera takes place for two days. The main portion of the festival is the
parade of the Sacred Relic Casket on the elaborately adorned main tusker
(elephant) of the parade.

Mask Dancers, Kandyan Dancers, Drummers, Sword Dancers, Stilt Walkers and many
other artisans form the Gangarama Nawam Perahera parades. The events take place
at night lit by flaming torches.They are also accompanied by hundreds of monks,
Buddhist flag bearers, and traditionally adorned elephants with their
mahouts.The Gangaramaya Nawam Maha Perehera should not be missed as one of the
best and most colorful festivals of Sri Lanka.

The Mahanuwara (Kandy) Esala Perahera (the Sri Dalada Perahara procession of Kandy) also known as The Festival of the Tooth is a festival held in July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. A unique symbol of Sri Lanka, the procession consists of traditional local dances such as fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan dances and various other cultural dances, in addition to the elephants who are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy.

The
inauguration of the 7th World Buddhist Summit, which is also the Supreme World
Wide Buddhist Conference, will be held at Temple Trees 2 November 2017, Colombo
under the theme ‘Buddhism for World Peace’.

Nearly a thousand representatives from 47 countries including all supreme
leaders of main Buddhist schools of thought across five continents in the world
will participate in the summit. The conference is held from November 2 to 7.

The objective of the conference is to establish solidarity among different
schools of thought in Buddhism and advance forward together with strong passion
towards the peaceful future through the propagation of Buddhism in the whole
world.

The event is taking place at a time when the world is grappling with the threat
of terror and uncertainty. It aims to succeed in propagating the sense of
kindness and compassion in all sentinels, according to statement issued by Dr
Kyuse Enshinjoh, the supreme advisor to the Summit.

The
Sanya-based Nanhai Buddhism Academy started its first-ever semester Saturday
with 227 students, including 154 monks, from all around the country.

With five departments and eight majors all relating to Buddhist culture,
management, art and architecture, the academy will be run as a four-year school
system with Master Monk Yin Shun, vice director of the China Buddhism
Association, as its president. It was approved by the National Administration
of Religious Affairs in 2014 and construction began in 2016.

Located at the edge of the South China Sea in Hainan province, and surrounded by
tropical forest, the academy has wonderful campus views and fresh air. The most
famous nearby attraction is the 108–meter high Guanyin Buddha statue, a
visual treasure that faces the sea.

"The academy eyes building itself into a world-class institution to attract
more international Buddhism scholars and students, improve international
exchanges and cooperation and find out solutions to tackle challenges and
problems the world is facing through Buddhist wisdom," Yin said at a press
conference on Saturday.

The Buddha Rashmi Pooja, the National Vesak Festival will illuminate the region once again in commemoration of the Vesak Poya that falls in May. During this period the Gangaramaya Temple together with the Presidential Secretariat will facilitate the festival, transforming a precinct earmarked as the ‘Vesak Kalapaya’ for this principal Buddhist event of the Annual Calendar, signifying the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana or Passing of Lord Buddha.

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